关于当代中国科学观的重建问题

科学是一个复杂的多面体,它有多种形象和品格。其中,最重要、最基本的形象和品格是:(1)科学是一种关于世界客观规律的真理性知识体系;(2)科学是人类认识世界客观规律的社会性活动;(3)科学是一种以发展真理性认识为目标的社会制度。中国对科学的认识由浅入深,迄今,已较全面、深刻,但也明显存在缺陷。其中最突出的表现是:以技术代科学,或重技术轻科学;把科学知识等同于真理,盲目崇拜科学;对科学活动的社会性缺乏足够的认识;关于科学是一种社会制度的意识淡薄;等等。当代中国科学观的重建的当务之急是:(1)充分估价技术对科学的依赖性;(2)高度尊重科学的自主性;(3)清醒认识科学技术的局限性;(4)继续深化科技是第一生产力的认识。

Reconstructing our Views towards Science in Contemporary China

Science is multi-faceted phenomenon in that it manifests itself in different images and characteristics. Science is: (1) a knowledge system dealing with the rules and laws of the objective world; (2) social activities performed by human beings to reveal the rules and laws of the objective world; (3) social institution whose goal is to expose the truth. Though our understanding of science has been deepened, it is still flawed in that we tend to equate technology with science by placing too much emphasis on the former, knowledge with truth, that we worship science blindly, do not understand the social nature of science, and are almost unaware the fact that science is a social institution. To solve this problem, we should: (1) fully value the dependence of technology on science; (2) show enough respect for the autonomy of science; (3) have a better understanding of the limitations of science and technology, and finally (4) deepen our awareness that science and technology are the primary power.